Paul's first missionary journey

Paul's first missionary journey, around AD 46–48, started from Antioch in Syria — the third-largest city of the empire and home to a strong mixed Jewish-gentile church. With Barnabas and Mark, Paul sailed first to Cyprus, the home island of Barnabas, and preached the length of it from Salamis to Paphos. From there they crossed to Perga on the south coast of Asia Minor, then climbed inland to Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe — preaching, founding churches, and twice escaping mobs. They retraced their steps along the same route, appointing elders in each city, and returned to Antioch having opened the first sustained gentile mission. Distance: about 2,000 km, mostly under sail.